Fresh Finds: Class Of 2025 – Aussie Acts To Add To Your Playlist

Liz Giuffre, Journalist

Liz Giuffre

Liz Giuffre is a Sydney-based music and arts writer who's been listening, writing and dancing badly along to music since the late’ 90s. Although she clearly started her career as the Doogie Howser of Australian music journalism (a reference that will give away her age if nothing else), her passion has only sharpened over the years, even if her upper-level hearing range has softened. Just another excuse to get in early for the best position down the front.

A proud member of The Music extended family, Liz also has a 'grown up job' as an academic teaching and writing about popular music and culture at UTS in Sydney, and she also moonlights as a podcaster and archivist for community radio. Someone towards the higher end of the Australian music industry once called her a "Doctor of Pop", but you can just call her Liz. There's also a couple of little music fans who call her 'Mum'. She’s only met Molly Meldrum in the flesh once, and she didn't 'just go in for the hug'. Regret is a powerful emotion.

Features / Music
Covering Gomez
"I think we used some string players from Australia once, and I know Ian was quite close with the Gelbison guys, and we know Luke Steele a little bit, from Empire Of The Sun and Sleepy Jackson, that great band."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Ball Park Music
As the set progressed (nearly 20 tracks, not bad kids), they made it back to the end with some Beatles 8 Days A Week, and they had to be knackered, but again, happy. Ball Park Music, Thank Ewes, too.
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Vydamo - Becoming Human
While you will be disappointed if you go in wanting Art vs. Science (even the most happy-pop here isn’t that scale of happy-pop), here Finn shows some distinct – and new – chops of his own.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Goodgod Danceteria
There’s something a bit trippy about that many security peeps just concentrated on that little part of the building (seriously, did we look that dangerous?), and the seats upstairs were a nice touch (having somewhere to sit and watch the young people should always happen).
Features / Music
Mother Of All Songs
“I’ve had moments of high drama in my life which I draw on, but it’s not always like that. And there’s also sometimes things that come out of my mouth which can come across as a bit aggressive or subversive or shocking but, you know, to some writers that might be a bit dangerous."
Features / Music
Lust For Live
"The only reason we exist as a band is so that we could make music together and then play it to people."
News / Arts
Great Gatsby Red Carpet: Snubs, Rain and Spider-man
Inside the red carpet maul
Features / Arts
Getting Vivid
"You don’t ever really expect to be working on stuff like that, when do you think that Doctor Who would be running around on Sydney buildings? You don’t expect that to happen, but it does, and it’s pretty kitsch and it’ll be fun.”
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Beth Orton, Alexander Gow
While still self conscious (Orton stopped a phone camera saying ‘this can’t be forever, just for now’) oldies She Cries Your Name, Pass in Time and Stolen Car were given new life, while contemporary stuff like Dawn Chorus and Mystery also impressed.
Reviews / Album
Album Review: The Cat Empire - Steal The Light
Actually, maybe the Cats (and this reviewer) are getting a little older, after all.
Reviews / Arts
Michael Workman: Ave Loretta
There’s still a whiles to go for this piece (perhaps the small noisy room didn’t help in getting the pitch right), but Workman’s works in progress remain well worth the time and effort.
Reviews / Arts
Tom Ballard: My Ego Is Better Than Your Ego
Ballard’s material is solid and is developing nicely, showing his skill as someone who doesn’t need to deny their Gen Y ness, but doesn’t need to use it as their only trick, either.
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